Bangkok is one of my most visited cities outside the
Philippines. I went there recently to take a train going to Chiang Mai. I wanted to go straight to Chiang Mai but my
friends told me I should experience the train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. From where I am from, trains are the worst
kind of transportation anyone could take.
They were coming from Cambodia. They started in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam,
proceeded to Phnom Penh, then to Siem Reap, which is a route I have already taken. I would have loved to join them, but I needed
to save money. So, we decided to just
meet in Bangkok.
I arrived in Bangkok City shortly after midnight. An accommodation was arranged for me at Suneta Hostel Khaosan. I really thought I would be staying on Khao
San Road and I had planned to stay up until morning. After all, Pico Iyer wrote that Bangkok is
best experienced at 3:00 AM. But, Suneta
was in an unfamiliar street called Kraisi Road, the only interesting
establishment I saw in that street was a pad thai food truck parked in front of
the hotel and it already hung its closed sign, and the street was not lit up
as Pico Iyer described it. So, I hit the
sack and planned a full day of wandering.
Being tourist
The following day,
the street was lined up with garment stalls.
I browsed on a few items they were selling. Then, armed with the little map and calling
card from Suneta’s reception desk, I went on my way to flaneur.
After a few
steps, I saw the familiar sites – the souvenir stalls, the street food, foot
massage areas, and the bars. I knew I was already in the Bangkok I am familiar
with. I noted where the 7/11s are and
took some pics. I was already halfway
when I realized I was already in Soi Rambuttri, my favorite street in
Bangkok.
Soi Rambuttri is
parallel to the backpackers’ mecca, Khao San Road. Some describe it as the well-behaved brother
of Khao San Road and a lot of backpackers are already gravitating towards this
street.
Despite all the
restaurant options, and a lot of them look really interesting, I ended up in my
usual place, ordering my usual food and smiling at the usual people.
The rest of the day
was spent doing what most tourists do in Bangkok – shopping, having foot
massages, eating and drinking.
Temple Hopping
My friends arrived
the night before and we scheduled a full day of temple hopping in Bangkok City
and Ayutthaya, which is an hour away from Bangkok.
It was a different
Kraisi Road at 7:00 in the morning. The
street was lined up with fruits and flower stands. The night before, it was all street
food.
Bangkok is really a
city of surprises. It is also a city of contrast. In between Bangkok’s busy roads are the
gold-painted spires of its Buddhist temples.
Our itinerary that
morning was the three must-see temples of Bangkok - Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho and Wat Arun.
Wat Phra
Kaew is also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The temple is one of the city’s most popular
attractions. Visitors are not allowed to
take photos of the Buddha and should be wearing modest attires.
The famous
‘Reclining Buddha’ is the centerpiece of Wat Pho. The colossal 46-meter-long
reclining Buddha is housed in a purpose-built building. There are several other Buddha images in the
complex also.
Wat Pho is
also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai Massage.
Across the
river is the iconic Wat Arum or ‘Temple of the Dawn’. The temple derives its name from the Hindu god Aruna, often personified as the
radiations of the rising sun. The main
feature of Wat Arun is its central prang (Khmer-style tower) which is encrusted with colorful porcelain.
Leaving Bangkok
After a whole
afternoon exploring Ayutthaya, we rode a train to Chiang Mai.
Bangkok was
difficult to leave. I knew I would miss
its plethora of colors, the familiar chaos, and the duality of its character. I was there in transit, same as the previous
times I was there, but it always gives me my happiest memories. I promised myself again that I would come
back and spend more time in Bangkok.
Until next time,
Bangkok!
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